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"THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS"
The Chastening Of The Lord (12:4-11)
INTRODUCTION
1. In encouraging his readers to "run the race that is set before us",
the author of "The Epistle To The Hebrews" mentions the need for
endurance...
a. Suggesting that the "race" will not always be an easy one - He
12:1
b. Indeed, our "forerunner" Himself had to endure hostility from
sinners and eventually the cross - He 12:2-3
2. They were reminded that they had yet to endure as much as the
Lord...
a. They had "not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin"
- He 12:4
b. Though they had earlier endured "a great struggle with
sufferings" - He 10:32-34
-- Because persecutions were likely to intensify, they needed
"endurance" - He 10:35-36
3. To help them in this regard, he reminds them of "The Chastening Of
The Lord" by...
a. Quoting a well-known passage in Proverbs - He 12:5-6
b. Expounding upon the purpose of the Lord's chastening - He 12:7-11
-- Understanding how the Lord might use hardships, even
persecutions, to "chasten" them for their good, would serve to
encourage them to endure
4. What does the word "chasten" mean?
a. The Greek word is paideia {pahee-di'-ah}
b. In the KJV, it is variously translated as "chastening, nurture,
instruction, chastisement"
c. Thayer defines the word in this way:
1) "the whole training and education of children (which relates
to the cultivation of mind and morals, and employs for this
purpose now commands and admonitions, now reproof and
punishment)"
2) "whatever in adults also cultivates the soul, esp. by
correcting mistakes and curbing passions"
a) "instruction which aims at increasing virtue"
b) "acc. to biblical usage chastisement, chastening, (of the
evils with which God visits men for their amendment)"
[In this lesson, I wish to focus on "The Chastening Of The Lord",
using this text in Hebrews as the basis for our study. To begin, let
me stress...]
I. THE "FACT" OF THE LORD'S CHASTENING
A. SOME DENY THE CHASTENING OF THE LORD...
1. Believing that a loving God would never bring suffering to His
children
2. Believing that any suffering is due solely to the influence of
Satan
a. As some have so interpreted the Book of Job
b. Yet because Satan himself could not do anything unless God
allowed it, Job's adversity came ultimately from the Lord
- cf. Job 42:11
B. THE BIBLE CLEARLY TEACHES THE CHASTENING OF THE LORD...
1. In the Old Testament:
a. "You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his
son, so the LORD your God chastens you." - Deu 8:5
b. "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor
detest His correction; For whom the LORD loves He corrects,
Just as a father the son in whom he delights." - Pro 3:
11-12
2. In the New Testament:
a. "For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.
But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that
we may not be condemned with the world." - 1 Co 11:31-32
b. "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be
zealous and repent." - Re 3:19
c. And of course, our entire text under consideration - He 12:
4-11
1) Especially verses 7-8
2) Which state that all of God's children must experience
chastening!
[The "fact" of the Lord's chastening cannot be questioned by anyone who
accepts the Bible. At this point, let's consider "how" God might
chasten His children...]
II. THE "HOW" OF THE LORD'S CHASTENING
A. CHASTENING IN THE FORM OF "INSTRUCTIVE DISCIPLINE"...
1. There is both "instructive" and "corrective" chastening
(discipline)
2. "Instructive" chastening is designed to prevent the need for
"corrective" chastening
3. Instructive discipline is seen most often in the form of
"teaching"
a. In the form of warnings, admonitions
b. Thus Jesus could "clean" (purify) His disciples through His
teaching - Jn 15:2-3
c. Through His words Jesus sought to chasten the Laodiceans
- Re 3:15-19
-- One way, then, that God chastens us is through His Word!
4. But instructive discipline can also be in the form of
"tribulation"
a. In the case of Job...
1) His suffering was not because he needed correction - cf.
Job 1:1,8
2) Yet God allowed it, knowing it would make him better
b. In the case of the early Christians...
1) Persecution was looked upon as a form of chastisement
- cf. He 12:4-6
2) Their persecution for the cause of Christ was not
because they were wicked
3) But God allowed it, knowing that it would make them
stronger - cf. Ro 5:3-4; Ja 1:2-4; 1 Pe 5:8-10
-- Another way, then, that God chastens us is by allowing
persecution for Christ's sake!
B. CHASTENING IN THE FORM OF "CORRECTIVE DISCIPLINE"...
1. When "instructive" discipline is not heeded, "corrective"
discipline follows
2. Note the example of Judah and Israel:
a. Failure to heed God's word would bring judgment upon Judah
- Am 2:4-5
b. God made repeated efforts to bring Israel back to Him - Am
4:6-12
c. Such efforts included famine, drought, pestilence, plague,
war, earthquakes
1) These were not miraculous or supernatural events
2) But acts of nature brought on by the providential
working of God!
d. Some understood the value of such affliction - cf. Psa 119:
67,71
3. What about "corrective" discipline today?
a. If God would use Providence to encourage Israel to repent
before it was too late...
1) Would not the same God use Providence to chastise His
erring children today?
2) Does He love us any less?
b. I know of no scriptural reason why God would not use His
Providence to bring about events in our lives which serve
to:
1) Wake us up
2) Cause us to reflect on our lives and our relationship to
God
3) Encourage us to repent and turn back to Him if we are
straying
c. There are several passages which suggest that God might
bring some form of "corrective" discipline if we do not
heed His "instructive" discipline...
1) Some of the Corinthians had already begun to experience
God's chastisement, which they could have avoided if
they had "judged" themselves (by heeding His word)
- 1 Co 11:30-32
2) Jesus spoke of some way in which He would punish some at
Thyatira that would be evident to all - cf. Re 2:20-23
-- I therefore have no problem with the idea that God may
choose to employ corrective discipline in the form of
national and even personal affliction
[My understanding of a loving God chastening His children is tempered
by my understanding of "why" He does this...]
III. THE "WHY" OF THE LORD'S CHASTENING
A. CERTAINLY NOT BECAUSE HE DELIGHTS IN DOING SO...
1. God found it necessary to bring judgment upon Israel - Lam 1:
3-5
2. It was not something He wanted to do - Lam 3:31-33
B. WHEN NECESSARY, IT IS FOR OUR GOOD...
1. To correct us - He 12:9
a. Our human fathers do so, and we respect them for it
b. Should we not expect the same from the "Father of spirits",
and submit to it?
2. That we may be partakers of His Holiness - He 12:10
a. Our human fathers do it for what seems best to them
b. Our heavenly Father does it for a reason that far excels
any earthly purpose!
3. That we may yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness - He
12:11
a. In the short term, the experience is unpleasant
b. But in the long term, we benefit by such "training"!
CONCLUSION
1. Whether "corrective" or "instructive" chastisement, it is always for
our good!
a. It may be grievous - He 12:11a
b. But it will produce "the peaceable fruit of righteousness to
those who have been trained by it" - He 12:11b
2. "Corrective" chastisement can mostly be avoided...
a. By correcting ourselves - cf. 1 Co 11:31-32
b. Which we can do by taking heed to God's Word - cf. Jn 15:2-3
3. But even when we heed the "instructive" chastisement through the
Word of God, we may still experience some form of tribulation...
a. Such as persecution for the cause of Christ
b. Brought on by Satan, working in and through the world - 1 Pe 5:
8-9
c. Not because we are wicked, but because we are righteous (like
Job)
-- Yet God can use even that to provide a form of "instructive"
discipline, in which the good are made even better!
May the prayer expressed by Peter help us to endure should we
experience such tribulation...
"But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal
glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while,
perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the
glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen." (1 Pe 5:10-11)
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© Mark A. Copeland, 2001
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